Acts 19:23–41

The Riot in Ephesus

²³About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.^{i 24}A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. ²⁵He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business.^{j 26}And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus^k and in practically the whole province of Asia.^l He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all.^{m 27}There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.”

²⁸When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”^{n 29}Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius^o and Aristarchus,^p Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia,^q and all of them rushed into the theater together. ³⁰Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples^r would not let him. ³¹Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.

³²The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another.^s Most of the people did not even know why they were there. ³³The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front, and they shouted instructions to him. He motioned^t for silence in order to make a defense before the people. ³⁴But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”^u

³⁵The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: “Fellow Ephesians,^v doesn’t all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? ³⁶Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to calm down and not do anything rash. ³⁷You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples^w nor blasphemed our goddess. ³⁸If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen^x have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls.^y They can press charges. ³⁹If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. ⁴⁰As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of what happened today. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it.” ⁴¹After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.